Hood latch for automobiles



E. L. CRUM.

HOOD LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APRLICATION FILED OCT. 29, 1920.

TIE. 1 Ha 2 II I I6 l/ '3 INVENTOR.

ORNEY-S.

Patented May 16, 1922.

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EMANUEL L. CRUM, OFINDIANAPOLIS, Ill DIANA.

HOOD LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILES.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1922.

Application filed October 29, 1920. Serial No. 420,510.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMANUEL L. CRUM, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented 'a certain new and useful Hood Latch for Automobiles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a hood latch of the eccentric type for automobiles, and is particularly adapted to retain a hood in a securely fixed position so as to overcome the usual hood rattle.

I One feature of the invention lies in the eccentric type of fulcrum lever for engaging and compressing the hood whereby a yielding spring fastener may be eliminated, if so desired, the hood latch being adjustable by means of screw threads therein so it may be brought to any tension and be positive in its function. A

, Another feature of the invention consists in the means associated with the hood latch for oiling and maintaining the lubrication 0f the tension spring when used therein.

A further feature of the invention consists in the two point suspension or bearing of the eccentric lever upon the hood catch to positively prevent rattling of the hood due to the weaving of the moving car.

The full nature of this-invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In'the drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the hood latch in securing position. Fig. 2 is the same as .Fig. 1 showing a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2 showing the hood latch released.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the hood latch showing the shank thereof in ,cross section. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the hood latch showing the shank thereof in cross section with a yielding compression spring mounted therein. Fig. 7 is a crosssection taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings there is shown a portion of a vehicle frame 10 upon which the mounting 11 of the hood latch is secured by means of rivets or bolts12. The mounting 11 is provided with a recess 13 having an elongated slot 14 at the top thereof through wh ch the screw bolt 15 extends. The bolt 15 1s provided with a square head 16 adapted to loosely fit in the square recess 13 for preventing the turning of the bolt 15 with respect to said mounting. The shank 17 of the hood lock is internally threaded so as to screw on to the threaded end of the bolt 15, as shown 1n Fig. 4. The upper end of the shank 17 is bifurcated so as to provide the .arms 18 upon which is pivoted a fulcrum 1ever19, said,lever being provided at one end with a short engaging head 20 and at the other end with a finger loop 21, the distance from the fulcrum point to the finger loop being considerably longer than the distance from the fulcrum to the head 20. Mounted on the hood 22 of thevehicle, and rigidly secured thereto, there is a hook member 23 having a recess 23 therein in which the head 20 of the fulcrum lever is adapted to seat. I

The shank 17- and lever 19 can be adjusted vertically of the hood by screwing the shank up or down on the threaded bolt 15, said bolt being held stationary by means of the substantially square end 16. When the proper yertical adjustment is obtained by so screwing the shank, whereby the head 20, will barely reach over the hook 23 with the finger loop 21 in lower position, as shown in Fig.

3', the hood latch is properly adjusted. When 111 this adjustment, to latch the hood, the head 20 is placed over the hook 23 and the finger loop 21 elevated to the position,

shown in Fig. 2, which causes the hook 23 i and the hood to be forced downwardly whereby it will be tightly locked, the lever 19 being thrown from center of the fulcrum point and bearing against the supporting plate of the hook 23.

By means of this arrangement the hood latch may be readily adjusted to clamp the hood down under any desired tension to prevent its rattling, whereas in the usual construction of yieldinghood latches the tenslon of the spring varies or becomes weakened, permitting the rattling of the hood and-providing no means by which to read-- just the latch.

It is obvious that yielding spring'may be employed for the hood latch here illustrated in lFi 7. The bolt 15 extends into the shank 1 as heretofore described, but instead of screwing therein is provided with a hexagonal nut 24 adapted to fit snugly in said shank. Thelower end of the shank is internally threaded to receive a threaded nut 25 having a central hole therein through which the bolt 15 passes. Mounted between the nuts 24 and 25 and surrounding the bolt 15 there is a compression spring 26 for yieldingly retaining the hood latch in locked position in the usual manner. By means of the arrangement above described a yielding spring may be used, and at the same time the hood lock will be readily adjustable vertically and the tension of the spring 26 may likewise be adjusted, since by turning the shank 17 on the bolt 15 the nut 24 will be screwed .up and down thereon.

In order to preserve the life and proper function of the spring 26 and preventing any squeaking thereof, lubricatin means is provided as follows: An oil hoIe 27 arranged to extend through the upper end of the shank 17 between the arms 18 and communicate with the inside of said shank. Mounted therein and adjacent said oil hole there is an oil cushion 28 of any suitable material for becoming saturated with and retaining the oil. The end of the bolt 15 is arranged to abut against the oil cushion 28, whereby the spring 26 will cause it to be pressed thereon when the hood latch is released so that the oil contained in the cushion will be pressed out inside of the shank l7 and lubricate the spring 26.-

Figure 2 illustrates the parts in the securing position and also illustratesclearly 'the two point bearing which positively pre vents the rattling of the hood. The hook member 23 in addition to the notch or groove 23 is provided with a bearing portion 23 adjacent thereto. The lever 19 when the head 20 is associated in the groove 23 and in locking position bears against the'portion 23 and since the lever pivot is between said bearings 23 and 23, the lever is positively locked therein, and prevents the hood from rattling.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a hood latch for vehicles, the combination with a hood having a hook thereon, of a latching means anchored to said vehicle, including a threaded bolt secured at one end thereof, a member arranged to be rotatably adjustable vertically thereof, a lever pivoted at the end of said member, a. head on one end of said lever for engaging said hook, and a handle on the other end of said lever at a relatively greater distance from the of a latching-means anchored to'said vehicle,

including a threaded bolt loosely and nonrotatably secured atone end thereof to the vehicle, a hollow shank into which said bolt is adapted to extend, means for permitting the rotary adjustment of said shank on said bolt, means on said shank for engaging said hook, a lubricating hole communicating with the interior of said shank, and an absorbing pad mounted adjacent said hole for absorbing the lubricant, said pad being so positioned as to be engaged and pressed by the end of said bolt when said hood latch is released.

3. In a hood latch for vehicles the combination with a hood having a hook thereon, of a latching means anchored to said vehicle including a threaded bolt secured at one end thereof, a latching member having a hollow shank into which said bolt is adapted to extend, a nut adapted to screw on the end of said bolt and coincide with the inner walls of said shank, a nut through which said bolt extends adapted to be secured to the bottom of said shank, a compression. spring mounted between said nuts, a fulcrum lever pivoted at the free end of said member in position to engage said hook and draw said hood into closed position upon the movement thereof about the fulcrum point, a lubricating passa e communicating with the interior of said s ank, and an absorbing cushion adjacent said lubricating hole in position to be engaged by the end of said bolt when said hood latch is released. whereby the interior of said shank and said spring may be properly lubricated therefrom.

4. In a hood latch for vehicles, the combination with a hood having a hook thereon, of a latching means anchored to said Vehicle, alever fulcrumed between its ends to the free end of said latching means having a hook-en aging end in position to enga e said hoo and a handle on the other en said lever being so arranged that when moved to latching position. said handle will engage the hood at an appreciable distance above the hook and fulcrum point for exerting an inward pressure thereon.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EMANUEL L. CRUM. 

